Tramway-switch.



Pateilted Apr. 22 I902. J. H. V. YOUNG G. R. W. BARR.

TRAMWAY swncu;

A umi nmed May 29; 1901.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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Patented Apr. 22, I902. J. H. 'v. vouue'e R. w. BARR.

TRAMWAY SWITCH. (Application filed May 29, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY VINCENT YOUNG AND RALPH W. BARR, OF AKRON, OHIO.

TRAMWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,239, dated April 22, 1902. Application filed May 29, 1901. Serial No. 62,371. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, JOHNHENRY VINCENT YOUNG and RALPH WJBARR, citizens of the United States,residingat Akron ,in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tramway-Switches; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to tramway-switches.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch of this character which may be easily andquickly operated from the platform of a car to throw the switch-tongue fromright to left, as may be desired, and which will embody in its construction simple and durable mechanical elements positive in action and not liable to get out of order. I

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrange: mentof parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the rail to one side of the track, the switch-tongue, and tongue-operating device. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the car-platform, illustrating the hand and foot levers. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the shoes carried by the car for operating the switch-actuating mechanism. Fig. 4; is a detail view illustrating the manner of hanging the shoes to the bottom of the car,whereby they may be operated; and Fig. 5 is a plan View of a portion of the road-bed, illustrating the curved slot through which the trippin extends when projected within the path of movement of the shoes. 1

In the drawings, A A denote the main rails at one side of thetrack, B one. of the switch or curved rails, and C the laterally-movable switch-tongue for directing the course of the car from the main rails A A to the switchrail B, and vice versa. These parts maybe of any well-known or approved construction, and a detail description of the same is not deemed necessary.

Located adjacent to the rails A, on their inner sides, is a lever D, pivoted intermediate its ends to a block E to swing transversely. Oneend of the lever is pivotally connected by a link F to a studG, which projects 'upwardly and is secured to the switch-tongue C, while the other end supports a trip-pin H, which extends through said lever and is provided with a stop-shoulder I, between which and the upper end of the trip-pin is supported a roller or sleeve J, adapted to be projected through a slotted casing K, arranged between hinged to the shank N and provided at its outer long and heavy end with a laterally-extended head Q, immediately under the lower end of the trip-pin H;

R denotes tapered or wedge-shaped shoes pivoted to swing laterally and to move vertically and arranged under the car at each side thereof, one shoe adaptedto operate the trippin located near the right-hand rails and the other shoe designed to operate the trip-pin located near the left-hand rails, it depending entirely upon which direction the branch rail curves off from the main rail. These shoes are pivotally connected by a link S.

T denotes a shaft extending from the plat form of the car and connected at its lower end to a shank U of one of the shoes and provided at its upper end with a handle V for rotating said shaft, whereby the shoes may be swung laterally.

W denotes a lever pivoted to the stud X and connected by a pin and slot Y to a sleeve Z, loosely mounted upon the shaft T and confined between the set-nuts 1. A coiled spring 2 surrounds the shaft T and is confined between the platform of the car and the lower set-nut and exerts its energy to elevate the foot-lever and the shaft.

Assuming the car to be traveling in the direction of the arrow and it being desired to pass onto the curved rail of the track, the handle Bis turned to the right and the lever W depressed with the feet. When the flanges on the wheels of the car strike the trip-head L, said head will be depressed, thus elevating the head Q at the weighted end of the lever O and projecting the pin H upwardly through the curved slot within the path of movement of one of the traveling shoes of the car. One of the beveled sides of the shoe coming in contact with the pin forces the pin and the free end of the lever D laterally, thus swinging the switch-tongue in a position to guide the car onto the track. The instant the wheels pass over the trip-head L the weighted end of the lever 0 will drop, and the pin H will drop with it through the curved slot, thus leaving an unobstructed road-bed. 1f the next approaching car desires to continue on the main line, the lever V is turned in the opposite direction to that previously described, thus causing the switch-tongue to be swung in an opposite direction and the ear allowed to travel straight ahead. W'hen the foot is removed from the loot'lever \V, the spring 2 lifts said lever and shaft T, and with them the shoes R.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changesin the form,proportion,and details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with track-rails and a switch-tongue, of a trip-head adapted to be actuated by the wheels of a'passing vehicle, ahorizontally-movable pivoted lever for shifting said switch-tongue, a vertically-movable pin carried by the free end of said lever, an angular lever hinged to the trip-head and provided with a laterally-extended head to receive the lower end of the trip-pin, whereby when said trip-head is depressed, the trip-pin will be elevated to be within the path of movement of suitable mechanism carried by the vehicle for shifting said switch-tongue, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the track-rails and the switch-tongue,0f a trip-head adapted to be actuated by the wheels of a passing vehicle, a horizontally-movable pivoted lever having an aperturein one end, a stud depending from the switch-tongue, a link pivotally connecting one end of said lever to the said stud, a pin mounted to slide vertically in the aperture at the opposite end of said lever, and an angularlever hinged to the trip-head and provided with a laterally-extending head to receive the lower end of the trip-pin, whereby when said trip-head is depressed, the trip-pin will be elevated to be within the path of movement of suitable mechanism carried by the Vehicle for shifting said switch-tongue.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witmesses.

JOHN HENRY VINCENT YOUNG RALPH W. BA RR.

\Vitnesses:

JACOB YOUNG, .TEssE P. DICE. 

